Outer Coastal Plain Sangiovese/Shiraz '06
The Nitty Gritty:
- Vintage: 2006
- Varietal: Sangiovese/Shiraz
- Winery: Tomasello Winery
- Region: New Jersey
- Country: United States
- Price: About $10
- Rating: 86/100
- Tags: Blends
Sure, Jersey takes its hits, but in between the smokestacks of Elizabeth and the boardwalks of Atlantic City, I discovered a New Jersey wine that, well, embodies anything but the Dirty Jerz.
The Tomasello winery is an impressive third-generation endeavor (established in 1933, right after Prohibition was lifted) located in Hammonton, in the southern part of the state, slightly southeast of Philadelphia. I discovered a Tomasello tasting room in the quaint (yes, quaint in New Jersey) artist town of Lambertsville and was amazed at the range of wine available for tasting — nearly 30 different kinds.
The Sangiovese/Shiraz blend is a velvety smooth and pleasantly simple red, perfect for drinking and pairing alike. Spicy on the nose, it mellows out on the palate — the Shiraz and Sangiovese balance each other out — with a chocolate finish and just a hint of the spice you get on the nose.
This wine is also refreshingly affordable, at about $10 a bottle. While it may be difficult to find in yer average retail store, you can visit Tomasello’s Web site, where the quick completion of an online form will send you on your way to receiving a shipment of this beauty.
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By Lauren McNally
Lauren B. McNally is a New York City-based writer who spends her days on Madison Avenue and her evenings in Spain, France, Italy, South America, and beyond. She originally hails from Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College, spending time abroad at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Lauren passed The Court of Master Sommeliers’ Level I exam in August and will sit for her Certified Sommelier Exam in early 2010.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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